I know Easter is rather close, but there is still time for decorating, right?
So, I added some of these sugared eggs to the Boutique.
They come in two and three packs, some have foofed up, vintage baskets.
And some are gifts!
Yep, I'll share the eggs with a few giveaways, in honor of the plans I am "hatching" for A Snowbird's Song in November.
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Our time at Siesta Key was the best.
As always.
We like to stay at a place right on the sand, and while it isn't fancy, it is my idea of a dream vacation spot. When my sisters and I stay there, we like to craft and look out the window at the waves. Sugarwings and I took it a step further and did our artwork out on the patio, listening to the ocean as we painted our view.
We found a sea sponge on the beach to use in texturizing our pictures. It was just what I needed to paint the sand, along with a few splatters from a rough brush. Sugarwings got into the splattering too, I'm glad we were using watercolors, or we might have had some issues with the management…. As it was, I had to ask her to do her splatters away from me, I was getting a few extra on my own painting.
This one is sunset with a wet on wet watercolor sky.
Same view, different angle, so that the small rise seems bigger, almost a hill. I worked from photos that taken on my ipad, and then propped up on the table to look at. I know there was a big ocean right in front of me, but I prefer using the photos.
The lighter green in the water is the sand bar and the area to the right is where we spread my Dad's ashes a few years ago.
This is one that I painted with acrylic paints after I got home, from a quick, watercolor sketch I did that day on the patio.
These are small, 9×12", and I'm not sure what I'll do with them. They are kind of small for the wall since they wouldn't show up in detail from across a room. The size isn't standard, I'd have to custom frame them. They aren't that good to spend too much money on getting them framed… so, I don't know if I'll spring for that. Maybe a standard frame with a custom cut mat is more affordable, then hang in a small area, like the bathroom?
They might just go into a scrapbook as a memory of a lovely time with my grand fairy at one of our favorite places.
I must be on a migration route for these sweeties, because for 4 years in a row, there is one, blessed day when a large flock comes to see me.
It is often on a snowy day, always at the end of winter, after a nice break in the winter when we have had a glimpse of spring. Then, cold comes back for a few days, and here they come with it, to make me feel better about facing a few more days of freezing temps.
Usually, I glance out of the window and see a flash of blue, and know it is my lucky day.
This year, my husband was the one to discover our visitors. He stepped out the door, frightened the flock, and they flew up all at once. I was afraid they were gone for the day (they don't stay long).
But after about 15-20 minutes, they settled back in to snack on the dried berries from this overgrown bush.
They also love the warmed waterer we keep outdoors in the winter for the cats.
Maybe they remember that warm water on a cold day and pass the message along each year?
I feel like I need to read up on these birds, I'd like to find a way to convince them to stay longer.
They eat, drink, rest up for the morning, then are on their way again by afternoon.
Its quite amazing that I catch the fleeting bit of time that they are here.
It happens so fast and would be so easy to miss. They arrived the day before I packed up for our trip to the beach, it was a close call. A matter of less then 48 hours difference and I'd have lost the chance to enjoy them this year. Or if they had come the day before, I'd have been out running errands all day long and wouldn't have seen them.
How sad, if I'd lost this brief opportunity for my annual blessing of happiness upon our home!
And how blessed I am to catch them on their journey, yet again.
They do bring happiness.